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Presidential Dog

WASHINGTON (AP) - This isn't just another wag-the-tail story: The Obamas are
getting a dog in April and are looking for a rescue Portuguese Water Dog.

First lady Michelle Obama tells People magazine that the target date for the
arrival of the family pet is after her daughters' spring break trip in
April, though 7-year-old Sasha is convinced the dog is coming April 1.

"So Sasha says 'April 1st.' I said, 'April.' She says, 'April 1st.' It's
like, April!" said Mrs. Obama.
[snip]
The family wants a rescue Portuguese Water Dog who is the appropriate age and match.

Unfortunately, since PWDs are a rather rare breed, there are no PWDS in rescue right now. The Natl Coordinator of PWDCA lives about a mile away from me. She's already getting calls from reporters on this.

I would just think that a President has all kinds of people to research stuff like this in advance, yet they are really no different in this respect than the "man on the street" in laying out the schedule before they've got the correct information.

And, yeah, the PWD breeders are none too happy that their breed will be put in the spotlight by this choice.

G.Clinchy@gmail.com"Know in your heart that all things are possible. We couldn't conceive of a miracle if none ever happened." -Libby Fudim

​I don't use the PM feature, so just email me direct at the address shown above.

Young Chuck moved to Texas and bought a donkey from a farmer for $100.00.The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day he drove up and said, 'Sorry son, but I have some bad news. The donkey died.'Chuck replied, 'Well, then, give me my money back.' The farmer said, 'Can't do that. I went and spent it already.' Chuck said, 'OK then, bring me the dead donkey.' The farmer asked, 'What ya gonna do with him?'Chuck said, 'I'm going to raffle him off.' The farmer said 'You can't raffle off a dead donkey!' Chuck said, 'Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead.'A month later, the farmer met up with Chuck and asked, 'What happened with that dead donkey?' Chuck said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898.00.' The farmer said, 'Didn't anyone complain?' Chuck said, 'Just the guy who won. So I gave him back his two dollars.'Chuck now works for Citibank.
The farmer is running for Congress.

And so it goes.

Evan

"Prepare your dog in such a manner that the work he is normally called upon to do under-whelms him, not overwhelms him." ~ Evan Graham“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

Young Chuck moved to Texas and bought a donkey from a farmer for $100.00.The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day he drove up and said, 'Sorry son, but I have some bad news. The donkey died.'Chuck replied, 'Well, then, give me my money back.' The farmer said, 'Can't do that. I went and spent it already.' Chuck said, 'OK then, bring me the dead donkey.' The farmer asked, 'What ya gonna do with him?'Chuck said, 'I'm going to raffle him off.' The farmer said 'You can't raffle off a dead donkey!' Chuck said, 'Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead.'A month later, the farmer met up with Chuck and asked, 'What happened with that dead donkey?' Chuck said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898.00.' The farmer said, 'Didn't anyone complain?' Chuck said, 'Just the guy who won. So I gave him back his two dollars.'Chuck now works for Citibank.
The farmer is running for Congress.

"Prepare your dog in such a manner that the work he is normally called upon to do under-whelms him, not overwhelms him." ~ Evan Graham“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

Unfortunately, since PWDs are a rather rare breed, there are no PWDS in rescue right now. The Natl Coordinator of PWDCA lives about a mile away from me. She's already getting calls from reporters on this.

I would just think that a President has all kinds of people to research stuff like this in advance, yet they are really no different in this respect than the "man on the street" in laying out the schedule before they've got the correct information.

And, yeah, the PWD breeders are none too happy that their breed will be put in the spotlight by this choice.

I was wondering about this and thought maybe he was getting a puppy with the timeline set at April, meaning a puppy would be born. Maybe they are going to just SAY it is a rescue which would really anger the PWD breeders.

Nancy P

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made." M.Facklam

I was wondering about this and thought maybe he was getting a puppy with the timeline set at April, meaning a puppy would be born. Maybe they are going to just SAY it is a rescue which would really anger the PWD breeders.

Yes, this is not a happy situation for PWD breeders.

Painted himself into a box ... he sort of promised HSUS (et al) that their family would take a "shelter" dog, a dog that would otherwise not have a home. However, there was a failure to investigate the facts relating to PWDs and their comparative rarity. So, if they get a puppy (or young adult) they either have to fess up that it was not a shelter dog; or carry out a pretense that it is.

This may point to our own failure as hobby breeders to make consumer education more readily available ... while the AR, HSUS, et al make sure they have a high profile and are viewed as "experts".

They made a promise to the children without having the sound information on the obstacles to delivering on the promise.

And, yes, the PWDs have genetic issues. Of course, CHD. Also prcd-PRA and copper storage disease. There may be others. There is a website hosted by the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. Wonder if the Presidential advisors used it? It appears that the reporters were able to locate the national rescue coordinator.

G.Clinchy@gmail.com"Know in your heart that all things are possible. We couldn't conceive of a miracle if none ever happened." -Libby Fudim

​I don't use the PM feature, so just email me direct at the address shown above.

Painted himself into a box ... he sort of promised HSUS (et al) that their family would take a "shelter" dog, a dog that would otherwise not have a home. However, there was a failure to investigate the facts relating to PWDs and their comparative rarity. So, if they get a puppy (or young adult) they either have to fess up that it was not a shelter dog; or carry out a pretense that it is.

This may point to our own failure as hobby breeders to make consumer education more readily available ... while the AR, HSUS, et al make sure they have a high profile and are viewed as "experts".

They made a promise to the children without having the sound information on the obstacles to delivering on the promise.And, yes, the PWDs have genetic issues. Of course, CHD. Also prcd-PRA and copper storage disease. There may be others. There is a website hosted by the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. Wonder if the Presidential advisors used it? It appears that the reporters were able to locate the national rescue coordinator.